New iMac with M6
Apple’s new 24‑inch iMac with an M6 chip is praised for its industrial design, high‑PPI 4.5K display and all‑in‑one simplicity, but many see it as underpowered and overpriced compared to a Mac mini or Studio plus a separate monitor. Commenters criticize the persistent 24" size, 60 Hz refresh rate, and 32 GB RAM ceiling, arguing that professionals, local‑AI enthusiasts, and users of large workloads are effectively pushed toward other Macs or DIY desktops. The machine is broadly viewed as ideal for “family computer” and reception‑desk roles where aesthetics, low cable clutter, and ease of setup matter more than raw performance or future‑proofing.
Display size & refresh rate
- Many are frustrated that the iMac is still limited to a 24" 60 Hz panel in 2026, calling it too small and dated, especially compared to cheap 27–32" monitors.
- Others argue 24" 4.5K with perfect 2× HiDPI scaling and good color is a standout panel and well-suited to “family / office” use.
- 60 Hz divides opinion: some consider it “agony” after using 120–240 Hz screens, others say it’s perfectly fine for non-gaming work.
Performance, chips & local AI
- Several comments frame Macs as falling into “base/Pro vs Max/Ultra” for local AI, with memory bandwidth and VRAM‑equivalent capacity the real bottleneck.
- Some prefer older high-bandwidth chips (e.g., M1 Max 64 GB) over newer but narrower ones for running 27–35B models.
- There is detailed discussion of running Qwen / Gemma / DeepSeek locally, tradeoffs in quantization, KV cache placement, and tools like Strata, LM Studio, and local harnesses.
- Consensus: local AI is already useful but still slower, hotter, and more finicky than cheap cloud options for coding and heavy agentic tasks.
RAM limits and missing “iMac Pro”
- 32 GB max RAM is widely criticized as inadequate for professional workloads and local LLMs; some call it “ludicrous” or regression.
- Many want an iMac with Pro/Max‑class chips and 64–128 GB RAM; current cycle reportedly killed M6 Pro/Max variants in favor of an AI‑focused M7.
- Some expect high‑RAM buyers to prefer separate desktops (Mini/Studio) and their own monitors, so a true modern iMac Pro may never return.
Pricing & value vs Mac mini + monitor
- A recurring theme: the iMac is essentially a Mac mini with a 24" display, keyboard, and mouse for ~£700–800 / ~$800 extra.
- Critics say that money buys a larger, higher‑refresh third‑party monitor plus better input devices; others counter that comparable high‑PPI, color‑accurate, camera‑and‑speaker‑equipped displays are rare and expensive.
- Many see the premium as paying for integration, aesthetics, and not having to make choices.
Design, ergonomics & target audience
- iMac is repeatedly described as ideal for:
- Elderly users and kids (simple all‑in‑one, few cables, low support burden).
- Reception desks, boutique hotels, and “nice looking” living‑room or kitchen terminals.
- Thinness and the “chin” polarize: some say it’s pure design language and post‑it real estate; others see needless compromises in thermals and ports.
- Several users love the colors and “cute” look; others find the design boring, dated, or too bezel‑heavy.
Longevity, OS support & reuse
- Owners of old iMacs say the hardware feels overbuilt and still fast, but software/OS support ends after ~7 years, forcing retirement.
- Loss of Target Display Mode is heavily lamented; many wish old iMacs could be reused as high‑quality monitors.
- Some run Linux or ChromeOS Flex on unsupported iMacs, or use third‑party tools/hardware kits to repurpose 5K panels.
Input devices & accessories
- Magic Mouse provokes strong reactions: some love the touch gestures; others call the sensor inferior and immediately resell it to buy Logitech mice.
- Apple keyboards are often criticized as worse than older models; the Magic Trackpad is considered by some a superior default pointer.
- People want standalone colored keyboards/mice to match laptops, but Apple doesn’t sell them separately.